Control unit

Abstract

A control unit includes a control device that outputs a first command signal to an equalizing unit, which has a discharge circuit for solving a dispersion of cell voltage in respective cells of a battery and a switch unit for connecting the discharge circuit to at least one of the cells, and a command signal outputting circuit that outputs a second command signal to the equalizing unit so that a connection between the discharge circuit and the at least one of the cells is forcibly disconnected, when an abnormal operation of the control device, disabling an output of the first command signal, is detected. When the equalizing unit receives the first command signal, the discharge circuit is connected to the at least one of the cells by the switch unit to discharge the at least one of the cells.

1 . A control unit comprising:
 a control device that outputs a first command signal to an equalizing unit, which has a discharge circuit for solving a dispersion of cell voltage in respective cells of a battery and a switch unit for connecting the discharge circuit to at least one of the cells, wherein when the equalizing unit receives the first command signal, the discharge circuit is connected to the at least one of the cells by the switch unit to discharge the at least one of the cells; and   a command signal outputting circuit that outputs a second command signal to the equalizing unit so that a connection between the discharge circuit and the at least one of the cells is forcibly disconnected, when an abnormal operation of the control device, disabling an output of the first command signal, is detected.   
     
     
         2 . The control unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery is a power source for a driving motor of a vehicle; and
 wherein the control device controls an operation of the equalizing unit so that the discharge circuit is connected to the at least one of the cells by the switch unit to discharge the at least one of the cells based on the first command signal when an ignition switch of the vehicle is in an off state.   
     
     
         3 . The control unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reset circuit that outputs to the control device a reset signal for resetting an operation of the control device when the control device is in the abnormal operation,   wherein the command signal outputting circuit detects the abnormal operation of the control device, when it is detected that the control device has not been reset by the reset signal.